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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    United States Flag: Half-Staff

    Commonwealth Flag: Half-Staff

    Today, in accordance with the United States flag code, Governor Josh Shapiro ordered United States and Commonwealth flags on all Commonwealth facilities, public buildings, and grounds in Allegheny County at half-staff immediately today, November 21, 2024, to honor Pittsburgh Fire Battalion Chief John P. Walsh who died while in the line of duty on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The flags shall be lowered to half-staff until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been announced. All Pennsylvania residents are invited to participate in this tribute.

    The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is now notifying the public of flag notifications through the AlertPA, or Code Red, system.

    Current users will be able to log into their existing account and select “Flag Notifications” from the “Additional Notifications” section on the AlertPA website. New users will need to create an account and then select the option to receive flag notification alerts.

    A press release will continue to be issued for all flag notifications, however, the AlertPA notification will be the only way for individuals to receive a direct notification regarding a change in the status of the United States and Commonwealth flags.

    To create an account, or to select the Flag Notifications alert on an existing account, visit AlertPa.

    The flag, when flown at half-staff, shall be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag shall be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.

    When the United States flag is lowered to half-staff, the Commonwealth flag will also be lowered to half-staff.

    Special days designated in accordance with this section for flying the flag at half-staff may be proclaimed by the Governor in any manner that he deems appropriate.

    • ​All flags are raised at sunrise and lowered at sunset. The appropriate times conform with the scheduled sunrise/sunset as reported in the daily weather report. The Main Capitol flags are not lowered at sunset but are displayed 24 hours a day.
    • The flag shall not be displayed on days when the weather is inclement, except when an all-weather flag is displayed. All flags displayed by the Capitol Police are considered to be all-weather and are flown except during severe weather conditions when personal safety is jeopardized, or property damage may result.
    • The flag shall be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.
    • No other flag or pennant shall be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States.
    • When both the U.S. flag and the Commonwealth flag are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States shall be hoisted first and lowered last. No flag or pennant may be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States.
    • In addition to being departmental regulation, it is a violation of the crimes code for anyone to maliciously take down, defile, injure, remove, or in any manner damage, insult, destroy or desecrate the American flag or commonwealth colors.

    ​Fly A Flag Over the Capitol 
    The Department of General Services offers the United States and Pennsylvania flags flown over the Capitol to honor individual citizens or organizations. 

    Flags to be flown over the Capitol may be purchased from the companies listed below or from any other location. DGS cannot donate, sell or distribute flags. 

    • Philip Levin Company, 3301-C North Sixth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, (717) 233-8844
    • Tyndale Flag Service, 7604 Allentown Boulevard, Harrisburg, PA 17112, (717) 545-6228 

    ​If you would like to have a flag flown over the Capitol with a certificate authenticating that the flag was flown, please prepare a letter which includes:
    • Who the flag is being flown for
    • Title or rank of the individual flag is being flown for, if applicable
    • The date, if there is a specific date you wish the flag to be flown
    • The occasion for which the flag is to be flown, if applicable
    • Any other information you deem necessary
    • Date flag needs to be returned

    Please note: A minimum of one week's notice is needed for a certificate to be provided.

    The letter and flag(s) should be sent to:

    Department of General Services
    Capitol Police Flag Program
    410 North Office Building
    Harrisburg, PA 17125
    (717) 787-9013

    All flags are returned via regular, USPS mail service at no charge. However, if the flag(s) need to be returned within a short timeframe, a pre-paid envelope for Fed-Ex, UPS or USPS (overnight) must be provided.